Chester, PA – The 2-year-olds returned to Harrah’s Philadelphia 15 races strong for a Tuesday (June 16) qualifier section. Pacers of both sexes came together for five races each; with the first pari-mutuel trotting 2-year-olds on the Philly card this Thursday, there were two events for males and three for fillies.
Lindy On The Wall, an altered son of International Moni-Dancin On The Wall, looks like he’s ready to take on tough opposition right now, as on Tuesday he put in an impressive 1:56.4 mile to take the fastest freshman trot of the day. A winner from the pocket in 2:01 – :28.3 last week with trainer Eddie Dennis in the sulky, this week the driving fell to Andrew McCarthy, and he put the youngster right on the lead, coming home in :57.2 – :28.2 for owners E & K Stable Inc., William Mears, and Roy Parker Jr.
McCarthy also drove the fastest freshman filly trotter (in fact, he had a win in both sections of the pace, too), with the Captain Corey-All Along miss with the amusing name of Check Ur Ego Amigo coming home in 1:59.4. The Nicklas Andersen-trained baby, owned by Concord Stud Farm LLC, came out of the pocket to the lead down the backstretch and finished out nicely in :58.3 – :29.
You go over to the pacing side, but there’s “A. McCarthy” again, driving the fastest male to have success, Whass Up Cap, a Captaintreacherous-Southwind Serenity gelding, who had not only the fastest mile clocking, 1:56.2, but also the individual quickest last half among the males, :56.3, in winning for trainer Andrew Stafford and Tribbett Racing.
The unifying force among the quickest pacers by sex was sire Captaintreacherous, as he also was the father of filly Lindy Believer (dam Believe Its Lindy), who was the fastest of all the Tuesday morning freshmen with a sparkling time of 1:55.4, flashing the afterburners in :55 – :27.2 in the engine victory. Jason Bartlett sulkysat for trainer Petter Engblom and the partnership of Engblom Farm LLC, R A W Equine Inc., Evans Nation, and Hickory Hollow Stables. All five filly divisions, and four of the colts, went clocked in sub-2:00 time.
McCarthy was tops driving five successful babies, while trainer Nancy Takter sent out three success stories.
There may be one more baby summary coming after this one – most of the area ovals are starting to card the freshmen in overnight races, and the Pennsylvania stakes season, both Sire Stakes / Stallion Series and Fair Sire Stakes, have Opening Day as July 1.
Replays of these qualifiers are scheduled to be available at www.phha.org.